PASTORS BLOG

Please help me out here, because I think I am out of touch.It may be because I’m old, or it may be because I have lived in the South my entire life.It could be because I am, by nature, a laid back kind of guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously; but why is it that everyone seems to care so much about what is going on with everyone who is considered a “Celebrity”?I try to keep up with the news of the day just to be relevant and up to date. No, I don’t read every article, as a matter of fact, I read very few.I generally scan the headlines of the news stories I see on the homepage of a website, and if one catches my attention, I may read some of it to get a better understanding.But more and more, it seems I don’t see news. Instead, the page is full of stories about what a certain celebrity wore to an awards ceremony, the struggles of a certain Hollywood couple, and their rant about politics.I see pictures with the by-line pointing out the size of their engagement ring, the type of surgery they are having, or the name of their baby.Now, I know this is going to sound cruel, but am I really supposed to care?Is it really incumbent of me to put everything aside and listen to the opinions and delve into lifestyles of these celebrities?After I hear from them, am I then expected to change my opinions and values because someone with fame has spoken?Unfortunately, there are those who do.There are those who listen to celebrity more than they do Christianity.There are those who consider the word of the famous more than they consider the Word of the Heavenly Father.Well, if you are one who is influenced by the celebrity and famous, then I have a verse of Scripture for you.Matthew 5:24-25 says, “Then His fame went throughout Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.Great multitudes followed Him-from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.”If you are one who likes to follow the crowd - whose values and opinions are shaped by those of fame with a pubic platform, let me point you to The One whose words are always true, whose words speak of grace, and who can really draw a crowd! His name is Jesus! Now that is someone I do care about!